What we're following: Accused in school abduction back in court

Joanne Merlene Jones

Torstar News Services file photo

Joanne Merlene Jones, 41, has been charged in a kidnapping incident at an Oshawa school on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. Police arrested Ms. Jones in connection with the abduction of child from a Toronto mall in 2006. Toronto Star file photo

OSHAWA -- A court appearance is scheduled Wednesday morning for a woman charged with abducting a child from an Oshawa elementary school.

Joanne Jones, 41, is charged with kidnapping in connection with the Dec. 13 incident. Durham police said a woman gained entry to Village Union School on Simcoe Street and approached an 11-year-old boy, who left the school with her.

The child thought better of leaving and returned to the school, alerting officials, police said. A police officer in the area quickly arrested a suspect.

Ms. Jones made a court appearance shortly after her arrest and was remanded in custody. The Crown has announced its intention to oppose her release on bail.

Ms. Jones was arrested in 2006 for a similar incident. Police issued an Amber Alert after a four-year-old boy was abducted from a Toronto shopping mall. Ms. Jones was arrested the following day after being spotted at a subway station with the child, who wasn't harmed.